Carlos Alfredo Cardoza Lopez, VICAR Murder, California 2015
LOS ANGELES – In a major blow to the notorious MS-13 gang, federal, state and local law enforcement authorities took into custody 21 members and associates of the transnational criminal street gang in a takedown that capped a nearly three-year investigation.Carlos Alfredo Cardoza Lopez, a 23-year-old MS-13 member also known as “Little Boy,” faces a violent crime in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder charge for allegedly fatally shooting an innocent bystander who was confronted on August 15, 2015 inside the gang-controlled Little San Salvador Nightclub and Restaurant on North Western Avenue. A friend of the murder victim was also stabbed during the attack.
Lopez is eligible for the death penalty if found guilty of the murder offenses. Prosecutors will decide whether to seek the death penalty at a later date.
The operation targeted the leadership and most violent actors of the MS-13 street gang in Los Angeles, as well as MS-13’s links to the Mexican Mafia. This operation will have a significant impact on this violent gang and their overall ability to maintain control over law-abiding citizens.
The successful arrest of these individuals was only possible because a wide range of agencies collaborated with each other, based on information gleaned from countless investigation hours and tips provided by people who could trust our police officers, regardless of their immigration status.
At the center of today’s takedown is a 41-count racketeering indictment that charges 34 members and associates of MS-13. The indictment, which alleges violations of the federal Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, outlines the gang’s organizational structure, its affiliation with the Mexican Mafia prison gang, and its strict set of rules and punishment.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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